Liquefied Gas Lighter Container with Compressible Overfill Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighters with liquefied gas containers face the risk of overpressurization and potential explosion due to thermal expansion of liquefied gas, especially when filled beyond a safe volume, leading to increased internal pressure and the risk of bursting.

Innovation Solution

A container design that divides the volume into two separate compartments, using a dividing element or compressible member to manage pressure differences, ensuring a constant total volume and preventing overpressurization by allowing one compartment to expand while the other compresses, thereby maintaining equilibrium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the container is filled with liquefied gas to increase storage capacity, then the quantity of substance increases, but the risk of overpressurization and container bursting increases due to thermal expansion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity of liquefied gasVSAvoidrisk of overpressurization and container bursting

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into two separate compartments by a dividing element: a first compartment for storing liquefied gas and a second compartment for receiving expanded gas. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high storage capacity while providing a dedicated expansion space that prevents overpressurization of the gas storage compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second compartment is nested within the container structure, surrounding or adjacent to the first compartment. The dividing element creates a nested configuration where the expansion compartment is integrated into the overall container design, allowing both storage and safety functions within the same container volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the container volume is increased to allow thermal expansion, then the reliability improves, but the storage capacity for liquefied gas decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety against overpressurizationVSAvoidstorage capacity of liquefied gas

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the container into functional zones (storage compartment and expansion compartment), the system provides dedicated space for thermal expansion without reducing the storage capacity below safe levels. The dividing element ensures that expansion occurs in a controlled manner within the second compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical parameters of the container by creating a variable volume configuration where the first compartment volume decreases during thermal expansion while the second compartment volume increases, maintaining constant total volume. This allows the storage capacity to be optimized for normal conditions while providing expansion capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a dividing element is added to separate the container volumes, then the safety against overpressurization improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure management safetyVSAvoidcontainer structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dividing element can be implemented as a flexible membrane or thin-walled structure that allows for pressure equalization and thermal expansion while maintaining separation between compartments. This flexible approach reduces structural complexity compared to rigid dividing walls while still providing effective compartmentalization for safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively mitigates the risk of container bursting by balancing pressure fluctuations, ensuring safe operation even under temperature changes, thus preventing explosions.

Implementation Method 1

a compressible member (54) arranged in the second volume and compressing the second volume from an uncompressed state into a compressed state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Implementation Method 2

the dividing element may move or change its shape in order to increase the first volume and to decrease the second volume at the same time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven displacement: Displacement

Implementation Method 3

The liquid fraction of the liquefied gas can expand with temperature increase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 4

liquefied gas or a mixture of a liquid and a gas... both in thermodynamic equilibrium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP4158253B1Lighter comprising a container suitable for liquefied gas and a compressible member to prevent overfilling of the container

Publication Date: 2025.07.16 SOCIETE BIC SA

Figure 1a~4
Figure 5a~5c

AI summary

A lighter comprising a container suitable for containing a liquified gas or a mixture of a liquid and a gas, characterized by a compressible member which is arranged in the container.